Yes

by Bobby Bishop

Created on: April 05, 2010   Last Updated: April 07, 2010

There aren't any other fighters in the world of MMA, that have faced and demolished the pedigree of fighter that Fedor has. Especially not when factoring in the manner, in which he crushed his varied opponents. Often going head-to-head with them in their specialty, and coming out on top, without fail.  Here are some examples.

Few would argue that Nog isn't one of the best fighters from the guard in mma history, if not 2nd ever (behind Fedor himself). Some, like Dana White would say #1, past Fedor, but that would just be silly.  A watch of their two fights (not counting the no contest), shows clearly that Nog, as powerful and talented as he was, in his prime, couldn't beat Fedor when facing the man in his absolute best realm. I'd also like to note that I've not seen anyone else THROW Nog to the ground following an exchange. That was just insane.

Tim Silvia was bested in the clinch, quickly.  All the keep him at bay, and use knees and height in the clinch came to naught, as Fedor plowed him over, and quickly and efficiently choked him out.  Counts as a sub, but really, Tim was rocked, and had little chance of surviving the gnp that could have followed. Fedor fights ego free (another great trait), and simply finished when the opportunity arose. Randy has Tim in a similar position on the ground, but couldn't close the deal.

CroCop was largely bullied around on his feet, and then mercilessly gnp'd after the (at the time) inevitable takedown(s). I've not seen anyone else either throw CroCop through the ropes, having blocked/caught the legendary high kick of doom, or shin check his lighning fast low rounds with such apparent ease. Crocop always did circle away, but he was practically running away, or being bullied away for a large portion of the standup.

Matt Lindland was folded in two, and subbed via armbar.  Though he came up in weight for the fight, he's still an olympic silver medalist in greco.  No small pedigree there.  Fedor has routinely demolished fighters who outweighed him, along with this, and other lighter fighters, of considerable skill.

Hong Man Choi could really only have hoped to win via GnP, and was armbarred from the bottom (well, kinda diagonally from the bottom hehe) with lightning speed...twice.   Say what you will, but the man is a true giant with all his parts proportional, not just a tall skinny guy, or ex fatman trimmed down...he's the REAL kind of GIANT, and at over 7' tall, and 360+ lbs, imagine how some of the other heavyweights (Lesnar, Carwin etc) would fare, giving up 100 lbs and tons of reach to someone else, instead of having 40lbs or more on their opponents. It is not easy to armbar someone who's arm is longer than your body, (or even punch someone who's a foot or more taller than you).  Try it sometime, if you can find someone that big.

Arlofski appeared to be doing ok, until he was knocked completely unconcious by the 2nd punch fedor landed, barring 2 or three uppercuts in the clinch. (the 1st solid punch being a monster left hook to the body, that the crowd ooohed over, it was so loud).

Rogers, having 30+ lbs on Fedor (after his weightcut), and a rep as a standup brawler, was clocked early in the 2nd.  He proved his speed and power at the start of the fight, and even escaped some subs (rolled w/ a kimura to reverse position, escaped the armbar even...no small feat of awareness, considering Fedor gives no warning of an impending sub.

These, and all his opponents met roughly the same fate.  They couldn't stand w/ Fedor, and those that tried to take him down, couldn't survive on the ground, or keep it on the ground long enough to do anything.  All of the fighters he's dismantled couldn't find a platform in which they were superior to Fedor, regardless of their pedigree in other sports or fight sports.

That's the difference.  Fedor, unlike any other fighter in mma history, comes right at someone's best feature, and puts them to shame, at their own specialty. Beating Nog from the guard, bullying CroCop in standup, Out wrestling Marc Coleman, Out wrestling Kevin Randleman, KOing Rogers, Knocking the sh* out of Arlovski, the list is long, and full of champions.

Briefly, the other contenders for best ever....Royce Grace-couldn't stay forever dominant, and mostly one dimentional at first, in his fight style.  Nog-ass handed to him by Fedor doing what he wanted the Russian to do, stay in the guard. Also thrown around like a rag doll. Anderson Silva-not always coming forward, doesn't always destroy the competition,although he's amazing, in his own right.  GSP same complaint..also has lost (like the others)

In short, no one has dominated EVERYONE they've faced, irrespective of the opponents gameplan, or skillset, other than the great Fedor.  No one else I can think of, has virtually humiliated such a long list of legends.  Don't look at what these people did after Fedor put them in a world of hurt....look at who they were thought to be shortly before they fought Fedor.  He's so dangerous, he wrecks fighters psychological states.  Once he's done with them, they often never perform at the level they did.  He undoes training with his effectiveness, and unyealding pressure. That's why he's the greatest of all time.  Royce gracie did much to evolve the concept of fighting, as did Marc Coleman, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock, Chuck Liddel, Anderson, Genki Sudo and others.  Fedor, however, not only rewrote gnp, and surviving the guard, but he defied every preconception of what is a fighters 'strength' or 'best skill', by being amazing at every skill required for MMA greatness and trumping other greats, at their own game, under their supposed ideal circumstances.

That and he's the best Sambo player in the world, which is no small thing on it's own.  James Tony just got a non exclusive UFC contract and he's simply not the best boxer in the world.  Fedor was correct to pass on signing away his right to compete in Sambo, anyone who thinks he should have gone to the UFC to prove something,

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